Vostro 230 Memory RAM upgrade - 4GB max? True? Why?

I'm ungrading my Father-in-law's comp and would like to go 2x4gb or even 2x8gb, but Dell's site says it's 4gb (2x2gb) max for this machine. Where is the problem? Does the motherboard not allow for 8gb or 16gb RAM? Is it the OS? The BIOS? Any help would be great, as the Dell Chat guy was a numbskull.

Hardware limitations come in at least two forms; the chipset and the BIOS. The on-line specs state that the chipset in the Vostro 230 is the G41 Express chipset. Intel's specs for this chipset state that it can handle up to 8 GB of DDR2 RAM, but only 4 GB of DDR3 RAM. Since the Vostro 230 uses DDR3, it is the Intel spec that limits the memory in this machine.

Regrettably, there is nothing you can do to increase memory beyond 4 GB on the Vostro 230. As stated earlier, the chipset itself can handle either DDR2 or DDR3, but the Vostro physical and electrical design will support only DDR3. Since only DDR3 memory will work in the computer, you are constrained to follow the chipset spec on DDR3, which limits capacity to 4 GB.

Intel G41 Chipset See entry under features on the first page; Dual channel DDR2 Memory Support and Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Support

I wish I had known this before purchasing the vostro 230. I specifically requested 4 GB when I ordered it and instructed the sales person I worked with that I needed the ability to expand memory in the future. Needless to say I'm upset!

I am sorry that things did not work out as you wished. You still have a very good machine that should give good service for a long time.

When the time arrives that you need to update, or that you might need additional or other computer equipment, you might wish to post on the page "What Do I Buy", a link to which is found at the top of this page. The volunteers who frequent that page will be very happy to assist you to find the computer you want.

Thanks JackShack for your advice. I will do what you say, which is to NOT waste time experimenting with 8 GB.

Too bad. I don't have a lot of windows open or programs running, and the Used Ram went over 60%, and Swap (set to 2 GB) was up to 25%, and I'm getting claustrophobic. I don't mean to whine, but I think if it were Win XP, there'd be more free ram.

I guess I'll try to remember that stability and memory management in Win 7 are superior to XP, there have been no actual performance problems, and I should save my claustrophobia for my therapist.

Intel G41 Chipset See entry under features on the first page; Dual channel DDR2 Memory Support and Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Support

The specification states that, but it could be an error. Current G41 DDR3 motherboards all seem to support 8gb; for example,I bought an Asus G41 last year, and 2 x 4gb of GSKILL DDR3 was immediately recognized. The Asus is out of production, but this Foxconn G41 supports 8gb, too.

It's worth trying an 8gb matched pair, as the cost is only $40 on sale. If it doesn't work, the memory can be RMA'ed, or a third-party motherboard like the Foxconn G41 can be swapped in.